United Kingdom
A 35-year-old male asked:
is olanzapine okay for long term usage ?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Ernest Fischer answered
Internal Medicine and Pediatrics 11 years experience
There are risks: The most common of which are weight gain and metabolic syndrome (diabetes with other metabolic changes).
Also these carry a black box warning of increasing all cause mortality (but this really applies to the elderly)
That being said it can be very effective in the right person and for the right condition.
If you are taking it for pain then the risk/benefit may not warrant using this medication
3699 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 30-year-old member asked:
Why does zyprexa (olanzapine) relprevv have to given in the butt?
3 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

Dr. Susan Uhrich answered
Psychiatry 36 years experience
Zyprexa (olanzapine) Relprevv: Is an injection designed to release slowly into the blood stream over a 4 week period. As such, it is designed to be given deep intramuscularly. Your bicps, where most other injections are given, are not big enough.
5902 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Side effects of zyprexa (olanzapine)?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

Dr. John Benson answered
Psychiatry 41 years experience
Zyprexa (olanzapine) side effects: Like other antipsychotic meds, zypr can cause weight gain, elevated triglycerides, cholesterol and fasting blood sugar. Some liver strain could show up as incr in liver enzyme numbers. It can cause tight, twitchy or restless muslces, called eps and akathesia, relieved by side effect meds like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) or cogent in. Higher doses: tired or sedated, so take at bedtime. Rare: drop in blood cell count.
5874 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Is it true that olanzapine is an experimental medicine?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Alan Ali answered
Psychiatry 32 years experience
Olanzapine: Zyprexa (olanzapine) has been around for a while, used as an antiosychotic.
5712 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
How long does it take zyprexa (olanzapine) to begin working?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Mark Reynolds answered
Psychiatry 33 years experience
It depends: That would depend to some extent on the condition being treated, the dosing used, and the delivery method (oral vs im). In general the earliest effect would be in about 3-7 days with further increase in effect over the next 4-6 weeks.
5706 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
What are the therapeutic levels of olanzapine?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Mark Reynolds answered
Psychiatry 33 years experience
20-40 ng/ml: Is cited, however Olanzapine blood levels are not routinely done in clinical practice as it does not have a widely accepted therapeutic level. On label dosing is up to 20 mgs daily, but dosing is frequently higher and there have been studies in treatment resistant schizophrenia using 50 mg daily.
5704 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Nov 28, 2017
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